Ocean Surveillance Ships - T-AGOS
Updated: September 15, 2003
Description: Ocean surveillance ships have a single mission to gather underwater acoustical data. The T-AGOS ships operate to support the anti-submarine warfare mission of the commanders of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets.
Features: The two classes of surveillance ships use surveillance towed-array sensor system (SURTASS) equipment to gather undersea acoustic data. The ships also carry electronic equipment to process and transmit that data via satellite to shore stations for evaluation.
Victorious-class ocean surveillance ships are built on a Small Waterplane Twin Hull, or SWATH, design for greater stability at slow speeds in high latitudes under adverse weather conditions.
The Impeccable-class ships has a hull form based on that of Victorious, but has a more powerful propulsion plant and is designed specifically for deploying an additional active towed-array system
Background: The ships are operated and maintained by civilian contractors.
A contract for the first SWATH ship, T-AGOS 19, was awarded in November 1986, and options for the next three were exercised in October 1988.
The keel for the first Impeccable class was laid down Feb. 2, 1993. Ship was more than 60 percent completed when the shipyard encountered difficulties. The contract was sublet to Halter Marine on April 20, 1995 to complete the ship. Impeccable finally entered MSC service in October 2001.
Point of Contact:
Office of Public Affairs
Military Sealift Command
Washington, DC 20398-5540
(202) 685-5055 or www.msc.navy.mil
General Characteristics: Victorious Class
Builder: McDermott Marine, Morgan City, La.
Power Plant: Diesel-electric; 4 Caterpillar 3,512 diesel generators, 2 GE motors, twin screw 1,600 shaft hp; 2 bow thrusters; 2,400 hp
Length: 234.5 feet (71.48 meters)
Beam: 93.6 feet (28.53 meters)
Displacement: 3,384 tons (3,438.14 metric tons) full load
Speed: 10 kts, 3 knots when towing array
Ships: No homeport assigned
USNS Victorious (T-AGOS 19)
USNS Effective (T-AGOS 21)
USNS Loyal (T-AGOS 22)
Crew: 19-22 mariners, 5 technicians and up to 15 Navy personnel
General Characteristics: Impeccable Class
Builder: Tampa Shipyard/Halter Marine
Power Plant: Diesel-electric; three diesel generators; 2 Westinghouse motors; 5,000 horsepower; twin screw shaft; 2 omni-thruster hydrojets; 1,800 horsepower
Length: 281.5 feet (85.8 meters)
Beam: 95.8 feet (29.2 meters)
Displacement: 5,370 tons (5,456.18 metric tons) full load
Speed: 13 knots, 3 knots when towing
Ship: No homeport assigned
USNS Impeccable (T-AGOS 23)
Crew: 20 mariners, 5 technicians and up to 20 Navy personnel
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